Cosplay Update – Maria Ross, Akari Mizunashi, and Other Cosplays for Con in May

My Maria Ross State Alchemist pants are almost done.  I just have to add a bit of fabric to the bottom because I forgot to calculate in ease X_X, attach the cuffs, and sew in the hook and eye closures.  Then it’s on to the waist coat and killer jacket.  I’m seriously saving the jacket for last.  It scares me.  I’m not good at jackets and this is no ordinary jacket, it’s secretly a monster in disguise.  Shhh.

My Akari cosplay is getting closer to completion.  The dress is done so I just have to make the fuku, glove, bracelet, and boots.  I might make the hat too.  If have time and resources I’d like to make a President Aria plushie as well. 

I have a ton of wig styling to do once the wigs arrive.  So far they have been ordered and are being processed for international shipping.  I’m really hoping they come in time.  If not I’ll be up the creek without a paddle to coin a phrase.  In other words, I won’t have any cosplays to wear to the con. 

I still have to finish gathering items for all my cosplays.  I have a lot to get for my Temari, Anna, Fio, and Luka cosplays and I still don’t have every thing for my Akari or Maria cosplays yet.  @_@  I feel like I never stop having to get stuff.  I also have to help my friend with his cosplay and style his wig.  @_@  I seriously hope I can everything done in time for the con in a month.  Then it'll be on to the next set of cosplays for my August con.  So much to do and not much time. 

Second Guessing

I really need to stop second guessing myself.  My intuition is often right when it comes to modifying patterns/clothing.  I often have everything planned out and working out well until my analytical mind comes in and second guesses the modifications.  Usually I’ll change the pattern to match the analytical observations instead of going with my original modifications.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my analytical mind, I just wish that I would incorporate the analytics with the intuitive hunches better.

You’re probably wondering why I brought that up.  Well, it’s because I did it again.  I second guessed my intuition and now I have to fix my mistake.  Unfortunately, I didn’t account enough ease into the length of my pant legs for my Maria Ross cosplay so I have to add at least a four inch strip to the bottoms of the legs in order to be able to sit or walk or bend my knees without splitting a seam.  Gah!  I wanted these pants to be perfect, but they won’t be without the legs being too short and the cuffs not fitting right.  Ah well, I learned.  Now I just have to make sure I don’t do that again.  Pants are turning out to be a lot harder and more time consuming than I excepted. 

Maria Ross Update – It Has Begun

All the hype and excitement from meeting the lady I mentioned in my previous post spurred me to begin working on the pants for my state alchemist uniform on Tuesday.  Since I already had the fabric and thread, I was able to immediately start tracing out the pattern.  I used two commercial patterns for my pants, Butterick 4861 (for the actual pants, I used a lengthened version of view A) and McCalls 6083 (for the pockets since the previous pattern didn’t have the right pockets).  The patterns were easy enough to trace on the fabric and the pants were easy to modify for length and new pockets.  It took me almost 6-7 hours to trace all six pattern pieces and add necessary modifications to three of the pieces (front, back, and cuff).  Time wise it wasn’t bad, but my back hurt afterward. 

On Wednesday, I was able to cut out all the pieces and sew most of the pant pieces together.  It was my first time inserting a frontal zipper with a flap like normal pants have.  I was surprised that it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, especially when it came to sewing it in.  I was able to use a sewing machine this time which was really nice.  I usually have a very hard time machine sewing zippers into clothing, but I found out that if I use a regular foot instead of a zipper foot, the zipper will attach better and without much frustration.  It’s a wonderful revelation for me since I’m tired of hand sewing in all my zippers because the zipper foot wouldn’t work. 

I don’t have much left to do before the pants are finished.  I just have to cut out the interfacing for the waistband and cuffs, and attach and sew the interfaced cuffs and waistband to the pants.  The pattern I used for the pants calls for the waistband and cuffs to close with buttons, but I’m not sure if that’s the best choice for me since I’ll be tucking the ends of the pants into my boots and wearing the waistband under the butt-cape/waistcoat thingy’s waistband.  I don’t know how comfortable buttons would be in this case so I’m thinking of using waistband hooks and eyes instead.  I think I’ll go with the hook and eye method for the sake of comfort. 

There is not much else to say about this cosplay at the moment.  I’m still looking for acceptable boots to use.  I was thinking of trying combat or real army boots, but I’m not sure yet.  I’ll have to see if I can find some at a good price.  If not then I’ll settle for boot covers over a pair of black boots I already own.  There are a few more things for the main outfit that I have yet to get as well.  I still don’t have the right bias tape to use (I have dark gray instead of silver gray), buttons for the butt-cape/waistcoat thing, a gold braid and small ring as well as the lapels (I’m getting them embroidered for me since it will cost less than if I embroider it myself) and pins since I can’t cast them out of pewter myself.  Other than that I’m ready to go.  ^_^

Psyched

I am so totally psyched!  I went to a cosplay workshop/hang out time today and met the lady who made an awesome set of Fullmetal Alchemist State Military uniforms that looked wonderful at last year’s August con.  It was so cool!  We talked a bit and swapped info.  I told here how cool I thought her costumes were and that I was planning to make a Maria Ross cosplay, but was having a really hard time with the jacket.  Guess what?!  She said she’d help me with the jacket!!!  Woot!  Now I can finally figure out how to make it and hopefully have the entire cosplay done for the May con this year.  I am very, very happy and excited.  I’m gonna go sew the rest of the cosplay now.

New Addition to the Cosplay Family

I’m having another change of plans.  My Kotomi cosplay fell through since I couldn’t get the wig or make the dress due to shortage of funds.  I still want to cosplay her, but I can’t at the moment so I’m replacing her with Luka from Vocaloid.  Luka is one of my favorite vocaloids because I love her voice and graceful style.  I also think her pink hair is adorable. 

I’m planning to do a Just Be Friends version with a curly wig. 

I found a long curly pink wig that I can afford and should arrive before the con.  I already have a white dress and black boots that I could use.  I have to add a lining or two to the dress, but otherwise it’s done.  I’m going for the version she wears in the balloon scene so I don’t have to get or make a wreath.  I’m hoping that one of my friends can come so he can cosplay Luka’s Ex since he looks a lot like him, but I don’t know if my friend can come or not yet.  If not that’s fine, but I really hope he can. 

I also want to wear a silver/gray and black formal to the high society formal the con is hosting.  As far as I can tell the dress would look great with the wig which would be perfect for the formal since it’s curly.  I might style it a bit, but I don’t really know yet.  I’ll know better if I’ll actually be cosplaying Luka for the formal once I get the wig.  I got the dress from a prom dress swap.  It’s really beautiful, and I like it a lot.  I have a couple pairs of black heels that I could wear with it since high heels are required for the event. 

There’s going to a good sized Vocaloid group at the con.  So far it looks like there will be a Len, Miku, Mikou, and maybe a few others.  I can’t remember the exact list unfortunately, but it’s a descent group for a small con.  I’m looking forward to meeting some if not all of the group.  Maybe there will even be a photoshoot which would be lots of fun. 

I’m both excited and nervous about cosplaying Luka.  I’m excited because I like the character for the most part, but I’m nervous since Luka is the sexy type and I am not.  Nevertheless, I like her Just Be Friends version which is sweet, simple, and not over sexualized like some of her other designs. I like the character, but I don’t like all her variations. 

Dresses I’m planning to use: Top and middle, Just Be Friends version dress and boots; bottom, formal version.  The formal has a very beautiful silver to grey gradient, but unfortunately the lighting washes it out in the picture.

The Fan has Arrived

I got my fan today.  It looks so cool!  I’m very happy with it and can’t wait to transform it into Temari’s weapon.  It’s about 3 feet high and really wide.  I’m about 5’3”-5’4” and when open the fan spans from the floor to the mid to top of my head when I hold it sideways.  I love the design on it and almost wish I wasn’t using it as a prop since it’s so pretty. 

So far my idea is to cover the fan with white fabric, I would glue the fabric to the painting, then add the purple moons via purple fabric and Heat ‘N Bond.  I don’t know how well it would work, but it sure beats trying to paint over the elaborate design on the fan.  My only concern is whether or not I’ll be able to close the fan with the added fabric.  I would use a white broadcloth type fabric and layer it at least twice to cover the design, hopefully completely.  here would end up being around three additional layers of fabric, including the three moons, if I used the fabric method. 

I really don’t want to paint the fan, and I don’t have the money to spend on paint right now.  So far it looks like my best bet will be to use fabric.  I have a bit of extra white fabric laying around and I might have some purple.  If not it shouldn’t be too hard to find and I should be able to afford it.  I still have over a month until the con, so I’ll think about my options more and talk to a few prop makers as well.  I’m hoping to get the fan done as soon as possible so I can get a preliminary shoot before the con, but I might have to go without the fan which is ok for a preliminary shoot. 

Temari Cosplay Update

I almost have all the pieces of Temari’s first Shipuden outfit.  I’m buying the kimono, obi, headband, netting, and gloves.  I bought a base for her fan and should be receiving it in a week at most.  I still have to order her wig and buy the materials for her shoes since I’m making them myself.  I also have to get a bunch of paint for the fan. 

Akari Update 7 - Wig

After much searching and price checking and wig hunting, I’ve decided to buy a prestyled wig for Akari.  I found that I can save more time and money if I buy the wig instead of making it myself.  As this is the case, I found a prestyled wig that I can buy from Clarissa-Kids on Ebay and Taobao.  The Taobao wig is less expensive so I’ll be buying it from there, especially since I know a group of people who want to do a batch order to save on shipping.  The wig will cost around $25-$30 USD including shipping.  I’m really about finding this wig as I didn’t want to style it myself.  I’m new to wig styling and Akari’s hair is at least at an intermediate level so I’m really nervous about styling it myself.  I don’t want to ruin a wig and I certainly don’t want to have a mediocre wig especially if I enter this cosplay in a cosplay masquerade. 

Updated Cosplay List – March 2011

As I’ve said before and we all know, I change my cosplay list nigh constantly depending on finances and circumstances.  This year is the year of the cosplay for me.  I’m trying to get as many cosplays done and or gathered before I go off to college fulltime next fall (fall 2012).  I’m using the time I have left to make sure that I’ll have backup cosplays to fall on so I won’t have to worry about it as much next year.  I’m also just trying to enjoy life before I have to completely become an adult.  The transition from child/teen to adult is a new, difficult, scary, and challenging one, but it is worth every moment as well.  I can’t wait to be fully on my own and self supporting. 

Back on topic, I’m trying to get as many cosplays done and/or planned this year as possible.  I still have another school year to make and/or gather cosplays, but I’m trying to get as much done this year as possible, especially since I’m planning to go to two new cons this year.  I’m so excited!  I’ve gotten most of my cosplays figured out so far, but I’ve added a few new ones to my list as well.  I might buy some of the new cosplays to save on cost, time, and other expenses, but overall I’d like to make as many as possible.  Just because I bought the cosplay doesn’t mean I won’t wear it with pride or be less of a cosplayer, it just means that I’ll have more time and funds to channel at the cosplays that I really want to work on and enter into contests.  I won’t enter a bought cosplay unless it’s for a skit because that wouldn’t be far to the other contestants or to myself.  I’d be cheating, and I wouldn’t feel right about it. 

To recap, my cosplay list for this year so far is:

Akari Mizunashi from ARIA the Animation (Summer Uniform)

Vorfeed from Lost Universe

Maria Ross from Fullmetal Alchemist (State Military Uniform)

Sophia Forrester from Last Exile (Silvana Uniform)

Sango from Inuyasha (Slayer Uniform)

Meliara from Court Duel (Original Design Purple Gown)

I was thinking of changing Meliara to Nee, another character from Court Duel by Sherwood Smith, but I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll actually do that yet.  As you can see, I’m making a lot of uniforms this year.  I guess this is kinda the year of the uniform as well as the year of the cosplay.  It’s the year of the cosplay uniform! 

Here are a few recap pictures for my present cosplay list.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Akari, Vorfeed, Maria, Sophia, Sango, sorry no picture of Meliara.]

 

I’ve added to the original list quite a bit since January, but I won’t include all the additions since I don’t know how many will actually happen, but then I don’t even fully know that for the original list either.  Anyway, I’ll include the additions that I actually have or can easily get the materials for first.  The lower on the list the cosplay is the less likely it will happen.  As such, here’s the new list. 

Temari from Naruto Shippuden (Time Skip Kimono)

Rapunzel from Tangeled (ending spoiler -_^)

Yui, Megumi, and or Mio from K-On!! (School Uniform – Both winter and summer versions)

Susan from Prince Caspian (Red Battle Dress with Corset and Chain Mail)

Aerith from Final Fantasy Advent Children

Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender (Earth Kingdom Outfit)

Nausicca from Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind (Ending Outfit)

Nagisa, Kotomi, and or Tomoyo from Clannad (School Uniform – Summer and/or winter)

Euphemia and/or Shirley from Code Geass (No Specific Version Yet)

Haruhi from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (School Uniform with long hair)

There were a few more I wanted to add, but I moved them to next year’s list.  So far, I almost have the Temari cosplay.  I’m going to buy it from another cosplayer.  I want to make the Rapunzel cosplay for my birthday in 10 days.  I’ve picked out most of the fabric, but I still have to get it and the money to buy it.  The K-On!! cosplays are still on the back burner though I might have the jacket fabric already.  The Susan Cosplay is part of 4-H and will be finished this year.  Aerith is a maybe for later this year once my hair grows out longer, although I could use hair extensions.  Toph is on the back burner as well.  I want to finish her Fire Nation outfit before I start on her Earth Nation outfit.  Nausicca might be another 4-H project.  Clannad is a maybe.  Code Geass is just an idea I’ve been toying with for a while.  I love both the characters so cosplays are inevitable I just can’t decide on a specific version to cosplay for either characters.  Haruhi is also a maybe and, if done, will mostly serve as a last resort/back up cosplay for if everything falls through.  I found a good deal on premade Haruhi cosplay and I’ve been told that I look like her so that’s why I’m thinking about the cosplay. 

Here are some pictures of the newest additions.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Temari, Rapunzel (her hair would be different), Yui, Megumi, Mio, Susan, Aerith, Toph, Nausicca, Nagisa, Kotomi, Tomoyo, Euphemia, Shirley, Haruhi (yes, I’d do the funky hairstyles per day too).]

    

 

I still have a few cosplays that I need to finish.  They are as follows:

Yuna from Final Fantasy 10 (Amano Artwork Interpretation)

Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender (Fire Nation Disguise)

Sheeta from Castle in the Sky (Pirate Uniform)

Susan from Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Narnian Trailer Dress)

My Yuna cosplay still needs to be finished.  It’s been over two years, and it’s still not done!  Luckily I don’t have a lot left to do.  I have to finish the hibiscus and ties, remake the skirt (I want it to be fuller), add the ties to the sleeves, make a staff, and that’s about it.  I also have to find or make her earrings too.  Toph just needs a bit of work.  I have to remake the belt thing, line the over-the-shoulder thing and add the back button, fix the bracers, restyle the wig, and make the crown.  I might make her shoes too, but I’m not sure yet.  Sheeta’s wig still isn’t done cause I haven’t gotten around to styling the bangs.  I also have to make her headband and hair ties, and fix the belt as well as find a pair of brown flats.  Susan is the almost done.  I just have to hem the dress and remake the collar.  I might embroider the collar too if I get the time/chance. 

I have pictures for the yet-to-be-finished cosplays as well.  They are as follows.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Yuna, Toph, Sheeta, Susan.]

That pretty much concludes all I was going to say.  I might add a few more cosplays or change out some of the possible cosplays as the year goes through, but I want to save some cosplays for next year even though I’d like to have ten new cosplays this year so I can wear a new cosplay each day of the cons I plan to go to.  I also have a tradition of making a new costume for my birthday, and I might make something for any fun events I go to.  I’m trying to keep the list reasonable while thinking ahead, especially as I plan to go to new cons.  After all, it is my goal to go to one new con each year until I run out of cons or get too old which I don’t think will happen for quite a while. 

As always thank you for reading.  The page views and comments mean a lot to me.  ^_^  I hope to talk to you soon! 

To the eternal glory of God.

~Narnian

A New Anime to Fall In Love With

Despite having massive amounts of homework this week, I was able to finish watching K-On!.  It’s a fairly new anime that I stumbled across when strolling around the Cosplay.com forums.  At first I was unsure of it, but as time went on it grew on me.

K-On! is the story of four high school girls who revive the near disbanded Light Music Club at their school.  The first season of the anime follows the beginning of the girl’s high school career and friendship as they start a band named After School Tea Time, become acquainted with high school, and gain a new club and band member.  It’s a cute upbeat anime that is a great stress reliever amid cramming for tests and school assignments.

At the beginning of the show there are four members in the Light Music (keion) Club.  Yui is the spacey, upbeat guitarist who is obsessed with sweets and snacks.  Mio is the quiet, shy bassist who is easily scared and acts as the mother of the group.  Tsumugi, or Mugi, is the kind, girly pianist who finds everything about normal life exciting.  Ritsu is the energetic, quick mouthed drummer who often teases Mio and is the self proclaimed president of the club.  There are quite a few secondary characters as well as a fifth member of the club introduced half way through the season.  Azusa aka Azunyan, the fifth member, joins the club as a secondary guitarist.  She is the youngest member of the club and has a no-nonsense attitude but loves to have fun.  Sawako is a major minor character so I’ll mention her as well.  She is the Light Music Club’s supervisor with a devious personality hidden under her sweet façade.  Ui and Nodoka are two other major minor characters.  Ui is Yui’s responsible younger sister who looks after Yui like an older sister.  She also loves to cook.  Nodoka is Yui’s childhood friend on the student counsel who helps the Light Music Club at times.  That’s all I’ll add for characters. 

Of the five main characters Yui (third from the left) is my favorite character followed by Mio (second from the right), Ritsu (middle), Azusa (second from the left), and Mugi (far right).  Sawako is on the far left.  I like all the characters, but I can identify with Yui the most which makes her my favorite.  She is such a funny character and a lot of her mistakes are mistakes I’ve experienced as well.  Like the time I left my instrument at home on my way to music lessons or the time I forgot my lines for the school play because I was too busy studying for a biology test and had to relearn my whole script.  We both can be very spacey as well and we have responsible younger sisters that help take care of us. 

Even though I can’t identify with Mio as much as Yui, she’s my second favorite character.  We are both shy, don’t like to waste time though we like to relax at times, get good grades in school, and don’t like scary stories (suspense is fine, scary is not).  I can identify with Sawako (far left) as well.  We are both obsessed with making cute costumes and dressing others up.  I’m not as extreme as Sawako when it comes to making others wear the costumes I make.  I’m also not as devious nor do I wear a sweet façade to hide a hardcore past.

On to my favorite part, the costumes.  I love the oufits in K-On! especially the girl’s uniforms and performance costumes.  The school uniforms are so cute and the performance costumes are adorable.  I’d love to make a lot of the outfits found in K-On! not just for myself, but for others as well.  I’m currently trying to get my sister to dress up as Ui or Azusa while trying to find a group to cosplay with.  I really want to cosplay Yui and Mio as well as Megumi.  You don’t meet Megumi till the second season, but she makes a brief appearance or two in the first season.  She’s the student counsel president. 

Yui is the character that I want to cosplay most so naturally I’ve picked a lot of her outfits that I want to make.  I really want to make her school uniforms (both summer and winter), as well as her first performance outfit, Fuwa Fuwa Time outfit, Don’t Say Lazy outfit, second performance yukata (original and warm version), and pink bathing suit (which I would only wear for swimming).  I also want to cosplay her in a few of the outfits Sawako made in episode 9 as well as the waitress outfit and maybe a few others from episode 12.  I’ll post pictures of the outfits next. 

Winter Uniform

Summer Uniform Variant 1 

Summer Uniform Variant 2

First Performance Outfit

“Fuwa Fuwa Time” Outfit

 

“Don’t Say Lazy” Outfit

Second Performance Yukata Original Version

Second Performance Yukata Warm Version

(the only difference is the fluff on the sleeves and collar)

Pink Bathing Suit

I want to make quite a few of Mio’s outfits too.  So far I want to make her school uniforms (summer and winter), second performance yukata (original and warm version), New Year’s kimono, blue bathing suit (again only for swimming), maid outfit (I want to make this for Yui too) as well as some of the extra costumes Sawako made.  I had also thought of making her first performance outfit and Fuwa Fuwa Time outfit, but I’m not sure yet.  Time for pictures!

 

Winter Uniform

Summer Uniform

Second Performance Yukata

New Year’s Kimono

Blue Bathing Suit

Maid Outfit

First Performance Outfit

“Fuwa Fuwa Time” Outfit

Here are the extra costumes.  They could be used for either Yui or Mio so I’m putting them in their own place.  They could also be used for the other members of the band.

 

   

  

There are a lot of other outfits that I like from the second season (K-On!!) that I like as well.  I’m not done watching the second season yet so I’ll wait to post those outfits and my review.  I want to keep all the second season outfits together and distinct from the first season for filing purposes.  It’s easier to find and reference that way. 

To conclude, K-On! is an awesome show.  It was really fun to watch and very heartwarming.  The lack of a plot was a bit annoying at first, but it grew on me quickly.  I hope you found this review and these pictures helpful.  I’ll post more detailed costume studies later.  Right now I have to get ready for school and finish studying for my test on Wednesday.  Thank you for reading.   It means so much to me.  Please comment if you like this or any of my posts or have anything to add or correct.  See you after Wednesday!